Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade and Public Ceremony

I just wanted to welcome all of you visitors who came from around the country to honor the bravery and courage of those who were at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago today. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to participate in this great event.

To the Pearl Harbor survivors and all the veterans with us today, please accept the profound thanks of the people of the State of Hawaiʻi. We also remember and acknowledge those who fell in battle or who have passed on. We recognize the sacrifices these men and their families made, and we express our gratitude to them. Many have said a lot about this Greatest Generation and their gift of freedom and liberty to all of us. I would just like to take some time to talk about another gift–the gift of living in peace and being great in victory.

Today we commemorate the past while celebrating the reconciliation of the United States of America and Japan and the deep and abiding relationship the two nations share. This Greatest Generation had returned after war to teach us what it means to live in peace. It was difficult during the war years, but when the fighting ceased, veterans from both countries worked together to form the political, business, cultural relationships that helped usher in the Pacific Era–an era of peace. As we go forward, let us never forget the example set by the Greatest Generation. Let us use these tools they have given to us to solve the challenges we face today and in the future. This is our responsibility. We owe it to these heroes who served and sacrificed on our behalf who fought to give us the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, and the freedoms that we enjoy today. This Greatest Generation has given us the greatest gift that we could ever want. It really is peace in our time, and the ability to live in freedom for all the people in the world.